Zooming Out: Tips on Pushing Pause in Your Photography Business
Shifting Focus
Hey friends! Erin from The Edit here, with a blog post and podcast episode that has me feeling such a mixture of sadness, excitement, and clarity…
I started my photography business in March of 2010 when life looked vastly different for me and my husband. The last fifteen years have been filled with SO MUCH soul-feeding learning, networking, making, doing, sharing, and creating. Photography was my outlet and my passion during infertility and the wait to adopt. It became a full-time career that helped pay for big dreams and small dreams. I’ll be forever grateful that photography was such a big part of my 20s and 30s.
We have two beautiful daughters now, and while motherhood is exactly what I always dreamed of in some ways, it’s a surprise in other ways. One surprise is how much I’m finding my photography business to be a burden because of how it conflicts with my daughters’ schedules and needs. I’m in a season where a senior portrait photographer’s calendar doesn’t serve me or my family the way it used to, and I’m learning to be okay with that. I’ve held on for a bit longer than I should have because I love it so much, but it’s time to shift focus.
I’m planning for this to be a pause instead of a full stop, so I want to make sure that my business is still there for me when I want to return. This has taken much strategic planning, and I’m sharing all of that with you all today!
Running a Back-Burner Business
For any creative who finds themselves stepping back instead of stepping up right now, I want to leave you with this: Your business can still serve you, even when it's not your main character. You don’t have to quit to rest. You don’t have to disappear to realign.
You can keep your business on the back burner without letting it burn out completely. You can set it up to run simply, sustainably, and quietly in the background while you show up fully in your real life. That’s not failure. That’s wisdom.
If you’re in a similar season, here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Know your minimum income needs.
Audit your recurring expenses. Calculate exactly how much money you need to keep your business alive. In order for me to not take money from other sources for this, I’ll continue to photograph a very minimal amount of clients each year. Some things you might have on your list include: Website hosting and maintenance, Insurance (equipment and liability), Tax preparation or accounting software, Camera maintenance and repairs, Editing software subscriptions (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud), Marketing tools (e.g., email platforms, social media schedulers), and Business licenses or professional memberships.
Determine Your Income Goal: Add up all expenses to get your minimum monthly and annual income requirement. This gives you a clear picture of the bare minimum you need to keep your business operational.
Calculate Session Requirements: Divide the annual income requirement by your average session fee to determine how many sessions you need to book per month or year to break even.
2. Streamline & Automate Your Workflow
Automate Client Communications: Use CRM tools like HoneyBook or Dubsado to automate inquiry responses, booking processes, and follow-up emails..
Template Emails & Contracts: Have pre-written templates for inquiries, bookings, and contract renewals to save time.
Batch Create & Schedule Content: Plan and schedule social media posts in advance using tools like Later or Planoly
3. Maintain Minimal Yet Meaningful Marketing
Stay Visible on Social Media: Post at least once a week to maintain visibility without overwhelming your schedule.
Repurpose Content: Share older, still relevant photos or blog posts, leveraging "Throwback" posts.
Email Newsletters: Send quarterly updates to keep clients engaged, sharing life updates, limited-time sessions, or photography tips.
4. Nurture Client Relationships
Check-In with Past Clients: Send personalized check-in emails, holiday greetings, or milestone reminders.
Referral Incentives: Offer discounts or small gifts for referrals to keep inquiries flowing.
VIP Client List: Maintain a list of loyal clients for exclusive mini-sessions or priority booking when you’re available.
5. Maintain Skills & Inspiration
Continuing Education: Invest in online courses, attend webinars, or read photography books to stay inspired and updated.
Passion Projects: Occasionally shoot for fun, which keeps your skills sharp and your passion alive.
Networking & Community Engagement: Stay active in photography groups or local communities to maintain connections.
6. Smart Business Planning & Finances
Keep Finances Organized: Maintain a separate business bank account and track expenses, even if income is sporadic.
Legal & Tax Maintenance: Ensure business licenses, contracts, and insurance are up-to-date.
Plan for Comeback: Set a loose timeline and goals for returning to full-time photography.
You can hear more details and tips on each of these things in the episode linked below. And above all, be kind to yourself. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re just in a new season—and you’re allowed to honor it.
What This Means For The Edit
When we launched the podcast, I was excited to share, mentor, and connect with the photography community in a new way. Every episode has been a joy. I’ve loved getting to sit down with my friends and co-hosts to talk openly about the highs, lows, and lessons we’ve learned as creative entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, The Edit is included in the list of things I’ll be stepping back from. Amanda and Whitney will continue on with the podcast, and I couldn’t be more confident in the heart, wisdom, and honesty they’ll bring to every episode. These two women have poured so much into this community, and I know they’ll keep showing up with the same encouragement, truth-telling, and laughter that made The Edit so special from the beginning. I’ll be cheering them on as a listener, a friend, and a forever fan!
Thank you for this incredible experience! I’ll be forever grateful for how it has fed my soul. I’m still cheering all of you on in spirit as you grow (or pause) your photography business!!
Farewell for now,
Erin
